Announcement,pt.3

We've recently had a renewed interest in this blog---www.torunistolive.blogspot.com ---check the archive section at the right of this page--- I have 350+ posts on everything related to running, many are totally unlike anything you'll see on other running sites. A good place to start may be the very first post from December 24, 2010 entitled--What This Site is About.
Not to sound immodest but this site has been extremely popular over the years.

Another Stotan/Cerutty blog:
www.livingthestotanlife.blogspot.com
Although I have only had a few posts this year(2017--but now have 300+ in 2020). it is my plan to have at least two articles a week from here on out. This Blog will be an extension of my ToRunIsToLive one referenced above.For those who have followed me on the other site, consider doing so on this one. Thanks, Dave.


I am no longer on Facebook--The addiction has been overcome(ha-ha). Addendum---By popular demand, a minimally updated FB page called Stotans United
Update--Off Facebook forever --now sometime ago. Update--December 18, 2016--For those who are interested in emailing me with questions about running or desiring training advice--
--I can be reached at cavalldavid@yahoo.com--I do not use the gmail account--with 58 years of running and racing experience I have learned a few things along the way---I am not looking to be a paid coach, I'm simply happy to give free running advice to those who might be interested.
Oh yes--it has been pointed out to me that on Twitter and a few other social media outlets that there  are torunistolive 'addresses' (for lack of a better word), I am in no way affiliated with them.
Livingthestotanlife and this blog here are my only ones.

Announcement,pt.2

If you are new to this blog please read the post just below this one first. Before you do though--I would like to say that there are over 300 articles on this site that cover every aspect of running and more. You can see the archive section to the right of this page. A good place to start would be to read the very first post entitled---What This Site is All About published on December 24, 2010.

Announcement

For those of you who are new to this site,if you look to the right side of this page you will see an archive section,check out the articles that began at that end of 2010 and after.You will also see there are things  that you will never read on any other running website.Encourage your friends and those who live for the run to delve into the archives and read those past articles.The key is,they have to have a love for the run.I write for those who can't imagine a life without running.
I am also writing to say that today brings to a close new postings on this site.

I feature a pix of Steve Prefontaine for this last post because he was the last true charismatic hero of American distance running.He was one of those rare runners who provoked interest among people who wouldn't normally be considered fans of Track and Field. No one since his time time has ever captivated the American public like Pre,not Shorter,not Rodgers,not Salazar,not anyone.The fools that occasionally post "on the world's largest running forum" like to remind us that many Americans have run faster than Pre but they miss the whole point,Pre excited us,he got us involved,he showed us what running could be.
Let me leave you with with this:To run is to live. Feel free to contact me anytime at: cavalldavid@yahoo.com 
A thank you to everyone who frequents this site!!!!!!

On Dogs and Runners

I guess this is one of those soapbox kind of days. Before I begin I would like to say that I am a dog owner. I would also like to say that I view most bad behavior by dogs as being the result of their owners not controlling their pets.Over the years I've always ignored the articles that's appeared,usually in RW,regarding runner's encounters with dogs.Perhaps I should have read them. I say this because for the third time in three months I've been attacked by the same dogs.The first time  was nasty.The dogs came charging around the corner and hit me just below the knee,upending me,resulting in an injured elbow and hip.Thankfully,the owner was close by to call them off.They looked to be pitbulls or a mix of that breed.The owner was somewhat apologetic and explained that her dogs were actually going after the dogs behind a fence I was running by.Let me say this about her comment,why is it that dog owners seem to make comments like that after their dogs behave badly or they say other ones like,"he's never done that before." Maybe they should try this one,"You know,I really need to keep them on a leash." Well,a month later,they came charging at me again.Fortunately,I yelled and the owner called them off.Finally,the other day one of them came charging out again and it was scary.The owner appeared but it got a little tense as they say.It was at that moment I said to myself,"enough is enough." When I got home I called the police with the intention of filing a complaint.Now, some of you may be wondering why I just didn't find another place to run but you see this route is a perfect one,a little bit of country in the middle of the city.It's about a mile long dirt service road that runs behind my house with tons of foliage on either side.
Well,the policeman arrived and was sympathetic but said it was more a matter for animal control and he would call them and have them talk with me.All I could think was, can't he just go over there and tell them they need to obey the city's leash law? He said they'd be over in about two hours.A day later and still no animal control.It was at that point I called them myself and it wasn't just about me and my running that I called.In the past I've seen children walking and on bikes in the area where these dogs ran loose.
I knew things weren't going well with the call when the lady from animal control who was taking the report seemed to have alot of trouble distinguishing between my address and the address where the incident occurred.I had to repeatedly say,"no,I live at that address,the address of the dogs is....." She assured me that someone from animal control would stop out there to "educate" them. Oh yeah,I'm sure that was effective.A little education,yeah,that's all that's needed.How 'bout a ticket? How 'bout the owner being told to obey the leash law or else?
In closing,I finally decided to find another route to run.It's not quite as nice as the other one but at least I know I can run safely......for now!
Next soapbox topic--How can you call yourself a serious or hardcore runner when you do your long runs with your cellphone hung on your shorts?

Speedwork and Distance Running

Perhaps the biggest fallacy in distance training is that you have to do lots of speedwork to be successful.There is no denying you need to do work at the appropriate time that is harder and faster, but,the benefits of grinding out multiple reps and sets of 200's--400's--800's etc. are grossly overrrated.I recall in high school that it was a rite of passage to do all out 200 and 400 meter reps in track practice.Now,I am not saying that some runners will not do well if they go heavy on the intervals,I'm simply stating that they are not a necessity to achieve distance running success.
Joe Henderson,who know running as well as most anyone says this:
"At the risk of sounding like a heretic,I'll state right off that speed is the most overrated commodity in distance running.Speed doesn't come in appreciable amounts,no matter how many dashes a young runner puts in.Speed is there,inborn.Some have it,some don't. Training can only alter the maximum level by a few scanty tenths of a second,yet hours of effort are poured into the search for it.The paradox is obvious:the average four minute miler(or even five minute miler) does 10 times as much speed training as a 9:1 sprinter.Speed,the speed needed to race adequately at distances longer than a mile,anyway,is quickly sharpened down to the limits of our ingrained abilities.After reaching that point,additional speed training is of dubious value.And worse,it hurts.It hurries the inevitable rush of fatigue producing lactic acid through the muscles.And,it raises the risk of stress injuries."
Don't buy into the, 'if the training doesn't hurt, you're not going to get better' fallacy.

The Ideal Athlete Is

Perhaps the following would be most appropriate in referring to the competitive athlete.C.Al Huang wrote the following. The ideal athlete is:
"Individualistic.
Has the courage to risk failure,learn from setbacks and forge ahead.
Sees the event as a means to gain greater self-realization.
Knows his or her vulnerabilities and trains to strengthen them.
Sees success as one part of the process of sports.
Understands that performance is a roller coaster and has the patience to ride the ups and downs.
Enjoys the sport for the pleasure it gives."
The athlete who views his sport the way Mr.Huang details above is a thinking and sensitive person.Consider his reference to self-realization.You learn alot about yourself when you compete against others.Those who have seriously raced,or do so now,know what I'm talking about.You also become aware of your vulnerabilities and weaknesses along the way.
The runner who thinks his training and racing are strictly physical endeavors,something to push through with little thought,gain nothing in the mental and emotional departments.Consequently,this person loses out on the opportunity to grow as a person.
The ideal athlete knows failure and disappointment are part of the process,he expects it and deals with it when it comes from time to time.Who he is as a runner and a person is not determined by how he did at his last race(or workout).
The final entry says it all,"enjoys the sport for the pleasure it gives." The ideal athlete doesn't lose sight of that no matter how much success,or failure,he encounters.
The ideal athlete is a unique individual.

Some Characteristics of People Who Persist

 

Determination and persistence are the keys to distance running success.Consider the following by C. Al Huang,those who persist tend to:
"Create fun in the process of accomplishment.
Have a strong sense of self and feel that,regardless of the outcome,they will be still worthwhile.
Have the courage to act and take risks.
Make changes gradually and patiently.
Reward themselves periodically for small gains they make.
Seek the support of others when times get tough.
Like variety as a means of maintaining interest.
Expect positive outcomes.
Focus on the joyous aspect of the journey.
Know that progress is always two steps forward and one step, backward."

I really like what the above has to say.One thing that really hits home are the references to the joy and fun aspects that must exist in order to stay persistant.Why turn a great activity like distance running into an ego driven quest for success? Enjoy the journey.